Web Design Plan

Web Design Plan - How to Plan Your Website

If you have had a website created before, or recently embarked upon the journey, you will have already realised that creating a website specification can be a daunting task.

Your web designer needs to know what you want and does not have a crystal ball. It's not a case of having a good chat and them suddenly understanding your requirements and hey presto, they're off!

If you have not provided written documentation clearly outlining what you want, then either they will do the best they can with what you have given them or you will be happy to let them come up with something that falls within your budget.

If you don't want too much involvement in the website, then this is no problem when working on this basis. However, if you have visions and fixed ideas on exactly what you want, then you will want to be more involved and you will want your chosen web designer to get it right. They can only do that with a well prepared web design specification.

Control over the Web Design Spec

If you have an eye for detail, are a bit of a perfectionist, or simply have a really clear vision about what you want the website to look like (front end design) and behave like (functionality) then you need to convey that information as clearly and concisely as possible to your web designer.

The best way to do this is to create a Web Design Specification. How you produce this is up to you but it needs to be presented in a way that a web designer can view it and get an immediate grasp of the requirements. It must be easy to read and easy to follow:

Use titles and break down large chunks of text

Use bullet points

Use URL links that leads examples to aid your explanation

Use flow diagrams for anything requiring a sequence such as functionality or navigation

Web development should include on-page optimisationas standard but if you don't provide the keywords and meta tag details for your web developer to add in before it is finished, then it can't be fully optimised and that's not their fault if you don't provide it - but they should ask you for it. Your input is needed for the meta tags just as much as it is for the page copy. The website should also be working towards meeting W3C web standards.

Be clear about any other web-related work you need doing that is not part of the web design itself. Don't expect some things to be included automatically - check with your web designer before agreeing to any contract.

Problems with your website or website designer?

To date we have a 100% success rate of successfully dealing with problem websites - things that are broken and not working properly on your website such as links, or has not ever worked such as an email contact form.

We also have the same 100% success rate of obtaining the login details and website files from previous web designers who have made it difficult for clients to have absolute ownership, control and access of their website.

Perhaps your web designer doesn't answer your calls or emails, or is slow to respond or implement things you have asked to be done on your website. You feel as if you are stuck with them and paying their hosting fees, which are often higher than elsewhere (definitely more than we would charge you!) and you feel locked in to them.

There is a way out, and on your behalf, we deal with getting your website into your control using professional tact and diplomacy at all times. We deal with them for you - all we need is your permission.

Our clients stay with indizine because they want to, and not because they have to.